Air Separation Buffer Tank Layout for Continuous High-Purity Supply
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Solution Overview
Problem
Air separation plants face challenges in producing air products with high purity and continuous supply, particularly due to interruptions caused by alternating tank operations and inefficiencies in conventional internal compression methods.
Innovation Solution
The method involves a tank system with a third buffer tank to store cryogenic liquids unheated, allowing for flexible pressure management and continuous production, enabling high-purity air product generation with reduced vaporization losses and energy savings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a tank system with alternating supply and withdrawal operations is used, then purity verification and pressure management are improved, but interruptions in cryogenic liquid supply occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the tank operation into separate phases: filling phase and withdrawal phase. During filling, purity can be verified without interruption. During withdrawal, the buffer tank ensures continuous supply. This segmentation allows both purity verification and continuous operation to coexist.
Solution Approach 2:
The buffer tank is pre-filled with cryogenic liquid during the filling phase before withdrawal begins. This preliminary action ensures that when withdrawal starts, there is already liquid available in the buffer tank, preventing supply interruptions and maintaining continuous operation.
2Use of energy by moving object
If conventional internal compression methods are used, then energy efficiency is improved, but vaporization losses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer tank acts as a cushion that stores cryogenic liquid before withdrawal operations. This pre-stored liquid compensates for vaporization losses during withdrawal, ensuring that the system can maintain efficient internal compression operations without suffering net substance losses.
Solution Approach 2:
The system manages phase transitions carefully by controlling when vaporization occurs. The buffer tank allows liquid to be stored and then vaporized on demand during withdrawal, rather than continuous vaporization, reducing overall substance losses while maintaining energy efficiency.
3Manufacturing precision
If alternating tank operations are implemented, then purity control is improved, but operational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The alternating operation pattern segments the complex multi-tank system into simple, repeating cycles of fill and withdraw. Each cycle follows the same straightforward procedure, making the operational logic simple even though the physical system has multiple tanks. This segmentation reduces operational complexity while maintaining purity control.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach ensures continuous high-purity air product supply, reduces energy consumption, and minimizes interruptions, while allowing for flexible pressure adjustments to meet consumer demands.
Implementation Method 1
a cryogenic liquid, in particular liquid oxygen, which is pressurized in the cryogenic liquid state, is vaporized against a heat transfer medium and is finally discharged as a pressurized gas product
Implementation Method 2
vaporized against a heat transfer medium
Implementation Method 3
The cryogenic liquid which is brought from the liquid state into the supercritical state liquefies the heat transfer medium which is at high pressure
Implementation Method 4
The production of air products in liquid or gaseous form by cryogenic separation of air in air separation plants
Data Source
AI summary
A method for obtaining an air product from an air separation plant having a distillation column system and a tank system. The tank system includes a first tank and a second tank. Cryogenic liquid is withdrawn from the distillation column system, stored in the tank system, and used as the air product. The cryogenic liquid is supplied to the first tank and withdrawn from the second tank during a first period, and is supplied to the second tank and withdrawn from the first tank during a second period. The tank system has a third tank to which cryogenic liquid withdrawn from the first tank and the second tank is transferred unheated. The air product is withdrawn from the third tank in liquid state, vaporized and discharged. Alternatively, the cryogenic liquid can be withdrawn from the third tank and stored in the liquid state in a fourth tank.